Sioux City, Iowa – Morningside University President Dr. Albert Mosley has announced changes within his executive leadership team and in the student life area that became effective June 1, 2024.

Jim Sykes has been promoted to vice president for athletics after serving as the athletic director since December 2020. Sykes was part of the Morningside men’s basketball coaching staff for several years before he was promoted to the head coach position during the 2003-2004 season. He held a .686 winning percentage with a record of 361-165 through the 2019-20 campaign, holding the record for most victories as a Morningside men’s basketball head coach. Fourteen of his last 17 seasons were winning seasons. In ten of those seasons, he posted 20+ wins. Sykes has led his teams to eight National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II tournament appearances, seven Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) regular-season championships, and three GPAC post-season tournament championships. He has also earned the honor of GPAC Coach of the Year seven times.

JJ Marlow ‘03 now serves as the associate vice president for institutional advancement and is a member of the executive leadership team, reporting to President Dr. Albert Mosley. Marlow is a seasoned veteran of the Morningside University Institutional Advancement team, having served as an assistant vice president for institutional advancement, the director of the Morningside fund, assistant director of the annual scholarship fund, and a regional development officer over the past 18 years. Marlow holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Morningside, where she also played softball.

Following her retirement after 38 years of service to Morningside in her most recent role as vice president for student life and enrollment, Terri Curry is serving in a temporary position as special assistant to the president for strategic initiatives. Dr. Erin Edlund has assumed responsibility for enrollment management including admissions, financial aid, and retention in addition her current role as chief of staff and vice president for university engagement. Dr. Chris Spicer has taken on leadership of the student life area, serving as the provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. As part of these changes, Dr. Beth Boettcher now serves as dean of students, and Jennifer Braunschweig has taken Boettcher’s previous role as advising and disability services coordinator.